Plunger



C. C. DALLEY Feb. 23 1926.-

4 PLUNGER Filed August 14, 1925 llllllll fnveizr: Cgyde Cifiaiey,

Patented Feb. 23, 19 26.

hair-en stares PATENT UFFICE.

CLYDE C. DALLEY, OF TERRA GOTTA, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALLAN SCOTT WOLFE, O WASI-IINGTON,-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PLUNGER.

Application filed August To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CLYDE C. DALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terra Cotta, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvell'lBlliS in Plungers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a plunger for brick presses and it comprises a cast metal plunger of rectangular shape adapted for reciprocation in mold-cavities of a rotatable table, and provided along its side edges with demountable strips of hardened metal extending from end to end thereof for the purpose to be hereinafter more specifically de scribed and claimed. The plunger comprising the present invention is of particular utility 111 machines for molding and pressing bricks, of that type comprising a rotary table or mold-carrier having a circular series of mold-cavities therein and plungers of the type herein described adapted to be reciprocated in said cavities to successively receive the plastic material, compress it, and deliver the compressed brick therefrom.

In the operation of a machine of this character the materials to be compressed into brick shape are delivered downwardly from a point above the rotatable table and are deposited in the mold-cavities as they are successively presented to receive such materials in the rotation of the table. During the filling of a cavity the plunger which is reciprocable therein is in its lowermost position. The plunger is then forced upwardly by a presser member (not shown) to compress the materials in the mold cavity and shape them to brick form. Upon upward movement of the plunger any excess of materials in the mold cavity is squeezed out around the upper edges 'of the plunger and, upon subsequent reciprocation of such plunger, this excess passes downwardly between the plunger and the interior surfaces of the mold cavity from which it is finally delivered.

The constituentmaterials of brick contain substances which, when they are delivered from the machine in the form of an excess, have an abrading effect on the contacting surfaces of the plunger and mold cavity and cause the rapid wearing of the plunger to an extent which necessitates fre quent and expensive replacement. The plungers heretofore used have been cast in 14, 1925. Serial No. 50,157.

one piece and the consequent abrasion and wearing away of the edges, which constitute the bearing surfaces thereof, has resulted in imperfectly formed brick, excessive wastage of materials, and costly replacements.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a plunger with hardened metal strips which serve as bearing surfaces and which are separately replaceable when worn.

A further object is to provide bearing strips along the longitudinal edges of a plunger which strips are detachably secured to the plunger.

A still further object is to provide a plunger having hardened longitudinal edges.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying the present invention, showing the method of mounting the plungers there- 1n.

Figure 2 is a front view of one of the plu ngers.

1* igure 3 1s a side view thereof.

11 igure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2. ieferring more particularly to the drawlugs:

A brick press 1 has mounted thereon a r0- tatable table 2 which is provided with a series of spaced 1noldcavities 3 extending thcrothrongh. A series of plungers 4: are closely fitted in cavities 3 there being only sullicient clearance between them and the walls of the mold cavities to permit the expressing of excess materials. Each of the plungers is formed with a slot in its lower face in which a roller 5 is jonrnalled, such roller being adapted to cooperate with a curved track 6 which forms a part of the machine and underlies the rotatable table 2 thereof. The track 6 is inclined throughout a portion of its extent whereby, when the table is rotated carrying the plungers with it, the plungers will ride up such incline and thereby deliver the previously compressed. brick.

The foregoing, while it does not form any part of the present invention, is described to enable a clear understanding of the use to which this invention is put.

The plungers 4: which comprise the present invention are provided with longitudinal grooves 7 formed in the edges thereoi and extending from end to end of the plungers. Hardened metal strips 8 are mounted in the respective grooves and are detachably fastened in place by countersunk screws 9 after the manner shown in the drawing. Strips 8 project slightly beyond the races of the plunger, as shown in Figure 4, and thereby decrease the frictional resistance to the reciprocation ot the plungers while at the same time allording an adequate hearing surface therefor. The hardened metal of which the strips are composed is worn away less rapidly than the cast metal of the plunger as formerly used in machines of this kind, and, when worn, they may be replaced With a minimum expense and with very slight loss of time.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. In ambrick molding machine a table provided With molding cavities therein, plungers reciprocable in said cavities each 01 said plungers being longitudinally grooved along its edges, bearing strips seat ed in said grooves and means for detachably securing said bearing strips in place in said grooves. 1

2. In a brick molding machine, a rotatable table formed with a plurality of molding cavities, plungers reciprocable in said cavities, each of said plungers being longitudinally grooved, and a series of bearing strips seated in said grooves, the said strips extending beyond the planes of the faces oi each plunger.

A plunger ior brick molding'machines COIHPIlSlDg a rectangular member grooved along its longitudinal edges, a plurality of hardened metal strips seated in said grooves and extending from end-to-end of the plunger, the said strips when mounted projecting beyond the side iaces of said plunger, and

means for detachably securing said strips in place 111 the grooves provided therefor.

In testlmony whereof I afllX my signature.

CLYDE C. DALLEY. 

